Plumbing trap



Feb. 2, 1965 R. J. MATHIS PLUMBING TRAP Filed Nov. 16, 1962 IN VEN TOR. RICHARD J MATH/5 BY H/S ATTORNEYS HARE/S, K/EcH, Puss/1L & KER/V United States Patent Oilfice 3,168,1il4 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,163,104 PLUMBENG TRAP Richard .i. Mathis, 2140 Sinclair St, Pomona, (Iaiif. Filed Nov. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 238,157 1 Ciaim. (Cl. 137247.51)

This invention relates to plumbing traps adapted to be connected between a tail piece of a plumbing fixture and a drain pipe forming a part of a sewer system. More particularly the invention relates to a two-piece plumbing trap having a trap member and an elbow member pivotally connected by a union fitting. The present application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 57,279, filed September 20, 1960, and now abandoned.

It is an object of the invention to provide a trap including an elbow member having a clean-out opening at the outer crest thereof closed by a removable plug. When this plug is removed a snake or clean-out member can be inserted therethrough to extend either into the trap member or into the drain pipe so that material at either location clogging the drain system can be disloged.

Another object of the invention is to dispose the lowermost portion of the clean-out opening at an elevation a substantial distance above the bottom of the drain pipe or the weir of the elbow member. Still another object is to provide a clean-out opening which is approximately of the same diameter as the internal passages of the elbow member.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a threaded plug for the clean-out opening having a concave inner face merging smoothly with the outermost curved internal surface of the elbow member when the peripheral edge of this concave face is in flush relation with the adjoining annulus of such curved surface. A further and important object is to provide a stop means limiting the inward threading of the plug into the cleanout opening to a position in which such peripheral edge is in such flush relation. Other objects lie in the various structures, to be later described, forming such stop means.

Still further objects of the invention lie in the provision of a plumbing trap having some or all of the features heretofore described and employed in combination with particular joint elements by which the trap can be secured to the tail piece and drain pipe or by which the trap mern her and elbow member are interconnected in sealed and adjustable relation.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following illustration and description of exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional View of one embodiment of the plumbing trap of the invention showing the preferred connection to the tail piece of the plumbing fixture and to a horizontal drain pipe;

PEG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the 45 plane indicated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view showing the plug removed and the manner in which a plumbers snake can be inserted in either of two directions; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 3 showing alternative forms of stop means within the scope of the invention.

Referring particularly to P16. 1, the invention includes in general a tubular trap member 10 and a tubular elbow member 12 joined in angularly adjustable relation by a union connection 14. The structure forms compositely a trap or drainage passage from a depending tail piece 15 of a plumbing fixture to a horizontal drain pipe 18 connected to a sewer or other waste-water receiver. The drainage passage is of substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout the system.

The trap member 10 is preferably J-shaped with its longer upright leg 20 having a flared portion 21 forming a smooth circular passage receiving the smooth circular periphery of the depending tail piece 16 and being detachably connected thereto by a slip-joint connection 22. The latter includes an annular nut 23 around the tail piece havlng internal threads engaging the externally threaded upper end of the leg 29. The annular nut 23 provides an inwardly-formed flange 24. A sealing ring of resilient material is compressed between the flange 24 and the upper end of the leg 2%) when the nut 23 is tightened, such tightening deforming the ring 25 into sealing relation with the smooth circular periphery of the tail piece 16.

The elbow member 12 provides a depending portion 30, a horizontal portion 32 and an intervening knee portion 34. The horizontal portion 32 terminates in an internally threaded enlargement 36 receiving the threaded end of the horizontal drain pipe 18.

The circular interior of the depending portion 3% terminates in a downwardly-flaring conical face 40 within an externally threaded enlargement 41. The shorter upright leg 42 of the trap member 10' provides a shouldered enlargement or end portion 43 having an upwardly converging end face 44, preferably conical and formed at substantially the same angle as the conical face 4% of the depending portion 39 of the elbow member 12. An in ternally-threaded union member 45 provides an inwardly extending flange 46 extending beneath the shoulder of the end portion 43. Tightening of the union member 45 thus clamps the flaring and converging surfaces together in sealing relationship. The seal at this point is preferably between the metal surfaces of the members 10 and 12 without intervening washers or packing.

The tubular elbow member 12 provides a smooth interior passageway Stl extending throughout the depending, horizontal and knee portions 39, 3'2 and 34. Within the knee portion 34, this interior passageway is bounded inwardly by an inner curved surface 52 of relatively small radius. Likewise this passageway is bounded outwardly by an outer curved surface 54 of relatively large radius. The curved surfaces 52 and 54 are primarily in the knee portion 34 but merge smoothly into the circular interiors of the depending and horizontal portions 30 and 32. In the central midplane of the elbow member 12 the curved surfaces 52 and 54 are substantially quadrants of circles formed about a center Even if thus not exactly concentric it is important that the curved surfaces 52 and 54 be substantially uniformly spaced from each other in the vertical midplane to provide a waterway of substantially uniform width in such plane.

The outer curved surface 54 is interrupted by a threaded clean-out opening 56 through the knee portion 34, preferably through a thickened wall thereof at the outer crest of the elbow member. This clean-out opening 56 is preferably of a diameter substantially equal to the diameters of the circular passages of the depending and horizontal portions 319 and 32. In practice the diameter of the opening 56 is preferably about 85100% of the diameter of each such circular passage, being thus of substantially the same diameter. The innermost end of the opening 56 thus ends in a circular edge or annulus 57 at the outer curved surface 54. As shown, this annulus is planar with all portions thereof lying in a plane at right angles to the central axis of the clean-out opening 56. To effect this the cross section of the passageway 56 is slightly U-shaped adjacent this axis as viewed in FIG. 2, having upper shoulders merging toward the annulus 57. The central axis of the clean-out opening 56 is approximately 45 from the central axes of the circular passages of the depending and horizontal portions 30 and 32.

An externally threaded clean-out plug 60 removabiy closes the clean-out opening 56. It is an important feature of the invention that this plug providea concave inner face 62. As shown, this concave inner face terminates in a planar peripheral edge 63 having all of its po r-. tions lying in a plane at right angles to the central axis of" the clean-out opening 56 and the central axis of'plug 60', g

the concave inner face 62 being dished spherically and; being of sphero-concave shape. The curvature of this, face 62 in the vertical midplane of the elbow member 12 is substantially the same as the curvature of the outer curved surface 54 to blendsmoothly with the annulus57. Likewise in a plane transverse to the midplane passing through thecenter 55, as in FIG. 2, the curvature of the concavev inner face 62 blends smoothly with the aforesaid shoulder merging toward the annulus 57. Correspondingly, when the peripheral edge 63 of the concave inner face 6-2 is in flush relation-with the edge or annulus 57 there are no projections extending into the fiow passage or waterway and substantially no spaces opening thereon which. would tend to impede the flow or collect or snag threads, hairs or other foreign material carried by the flow. By maintaining the aforesaid fiush relation the trap of the invention is self-cleaning.

It is likewise important to the invention that this flush relation be maintained both initially and after repeated removals of the plug 60-. For this purpose the invention provides a stop means limit-ing the inward threading of the plug 60 into the clean-out opening 56 to a position in which the peripheral edge 63 of the plug is in such flush relation with the annulus 57 ofthe outer curved surface 54. This stop means may be variously formed, as suggested inFIGS. 1,4, and 6. In all such embodiments the knee portion 34' provides an annular face pressurally engaged by a shoulder ofthe plug.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1' and 2 the outer crest of the knee portion 34 prov-ides a fiat annular face 65 at the extreme outer surface of the elbow member. The plug 60 provides a wrench-receiving portion 66, preferably-with flats for engagement by a suitable wrench. The particular size of this wrench-receiving portion is not critical to the invention. Between this wrench-receiving portion and the threaded portion of the plug is a flange 63 overlying the flat annular face 65 and providing a shoulder 69 limiting the insertion of the plug to the aforesaid flush relation. A sealing washer 70 is preferably interposed between the flat shoulder 69 and the flat annular face 65 This washer is preferably made of soft metal and is of such thickness that when the plug 60 is tightened the annular edge 53 will lie in the aforesaid flush relation with the annulus 57.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the flat annular face is within the clean-out opening 56 near the inner end thereof, being indicated by the numerals65a and'being formed by an inwardly directed shoulder 71 which extends to a circular opening 72 of the elbow member. The wrenchreceiving portion 66a of the plug is then immediately adjacent the, threaded-portion thereof. The latter provides an inwardly projecting circular portion extending into and substantially filling the circular opening 72. The concave inner face 6-2 is at the inner end of this circular portion. A fiat shoulder 69a is tormed at the junction of the threaded and. circular portions. A sealing washer 70a of soft metal is compressed between this shoulder and-the flat annular face 65a to determine the aforesaid flush relation.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 the elbow member provides a conical annular face 65b converging inwardly and positioned near the inner end of the clean-outopen ing 56. The wrench-receiving portion 66b is immediately outward of the threadedportion of, the plug and the latter provides the concave inner face 62. Thev inner portion of the plug provides a conical shoulder 69b engaging the conical face 65b to limit the insertion of the plug and establish the aforesaid flush relation. The peripheral: edge 63 is here at the junction of the shoulder 69b and 4 the concave inner face 62 of the plug. No sealing washer is interposed between the shoulder 6% and the conical annular face 65b in this embodiment of the invention but such a washer can be employed if desired.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 6 the conical annular face 650 is at the outermost portion of the clean-out opening 56 and converges'inwardly. The corresponding conical shoulder 69c is formed on the flange 68c of the plug between the threaded portion ofthe plug and the wrenchreceiving portion 66c thereof; As in FIG. 5 the shoulder 69c and the conicalannular face 650 are preferably in surface engagement to-determine the aforesaid flush relationship although a conical sealing washer can be interposed if desired. I

If there is no blockage in the horizontal drain pipe 18, or therebeyond the normal level: of; the trap, liquid will be, as indicated by AA in FIG. 3. I-fsuch, blockage does occur the liquid level-in the horizontal drain pipe 18-may rise to the level B-B- or even above. Should any blockage occur anywhere in the system theplug 60-is removed. If the level is at B-B or above it is a definiteindication, that the blockage is in the horizontal drain pipe 18. or therebeyond. In this event a: plumbers snake may be inserted through the clean-out opening 56 to extend along and beyond the horizontal drain. pipe 18 to clear the obstruction. When cleared; the level will drop to. A--A. Should the level be atA--A when-the plug66 is removed itwillbe apparent that blockage is inthe trap member 10 or the tail piece 16; In this event the snake 80.. can be inserted in its dotted line position of FIG. 3. to. extend along the trap member and the tail piece to clear the Ob'r. struction. In FIG. 3 the level BB- is at the lowermost portion ofthe clean-out opening 56 audit is desirable that thislevelbe substantially above the levelv AA or the weir formed by the top of the inner curved surface 52. This is desirable both to avoid drainage of. backed-upma: te rial through the opening 56 andtopermit observation of the water level in determining where the blockage has occurred.

Variouschangesand modificationscan be made without departing from the spirit of. the invention as defined inthe appended claim.

I claim:

A plumbingv trap adapted to be connected. between a dependingtail piece of a. plumbing fixture'and a horizontal drain pipe, said plumbing trapv including in combination:

(1) a- J-shapedtrap member having upright legs of different length;

(2) a connection 'at the top of the longer upright leg adapted to receive said. depending; tail pipe, there being a union. connection at, the. top of theshorter, upright leg;

(3) a tubular elbow memberhaving a depending portion anda horizontalportion joined by aknee portion, said portionsvdefining a-smooth interior passage wayv bounded inwardly by, a. relatively-small-radius inner curved surface of'said-knee portion and outwardly by a relativelyalarge-radius outer curved surface of said knee portion, said depending and horizontal, portions, providing circular passages having circular interiors of equal diameter, said curved surfaces merging into the circular interiors of said dependingand horizontal portions, said'curved surfaces being, spaced substantially uniformly from each other in the vertic-almidplane of said knee portion to provide a waterway of substantially uniform width in such plane, said outer curved surface being inter ruptedby a threaded. clean-out opening-through said knee portion of a diameter substantially equalto said circular passages and intersecting said. outer curved surface in an edge forming an annulus. with all portions, thereof; lyingina plane transverse .to .the central. axisof said clean-out opening, said outer curved sur face extending uninterruptedly tosaidthreaded cleanout opening, thecentraLax-isof said clean-ontogen- (5) a shouldered stop means sealing the interthread space and limiting the inward threading of said plug into said clean-out opening to a position in which said peripheral edge of said plug is in said flush relation with said annulus of said outer curved surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS depending portion of said elbow member by said union connection; 10 441,691 12/90 McClellan 137247.49 (4) an externally threaded C ea P g l'emovably 22:2; n threaded into said clean-Out op ning, Said P having 250 10 99 T dg 285 127 X a sphere-concave inner face terminating in a Planar 1 016342 12 L OHS 137-247 43 peripheral edge, all portions f Said Peripheral1 edge 13 9/14 es 220 39 lying in a plane at right ang to the Central axis of 15 22 11 /21 B gh 22039 said plug, said inner face being f the Same Curvature 6/33 Kinzd 220 46 in said vertical midplane as said outer Curved Surface 1992793 2 /3 5 Welter 220 39 when said peripheral edg is in a flush relation with 7 5 4 35 G06 1 1';:247 51 X said annulus, all portions of said sphero-concave sur- 136196 9/38 sakigr 1 face adjacent said peripheral dg merging smoothly 259 7 46 i h 585-127 into the curve of said outer curv d Surface When Said 2,766,461 10/56 z il 4-170 peripheral edge is in said fl h r l whereby Said f 3 7 57 k 22039 sphero-conoave surface presents with the flush outer curved surface a smooth continuation of said interior ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner. passageway free of pro ections; and 

